Slayer’s Kerry King: If I’m not doing my job, don’t pay me

Slayer’s Kerry King grateful for fans who supported 12th studio album Repentless – and says he wouldn’t expect album sales if he didn’t “bring it” in the studio

Slayer guitarist Kerry King says he doesn’t expect to be paid if he doesn’t do his job properly.

Asked about the success of the band’s 12th album Repentless which came out in 2015, King says it was down to the band’s hard graft in the studio – and creating a piece of work that resonated with their fan base.

He tells Cleveland Scene: “I’m proud that people came out and supported this record the way they did. It was worldwide No. 2, which is unheard of for a band like us – and it’s unheard of for a band with a deceased guitar player and a carousel for drummers.

“The fans supported it, and we made a record they wanted us to make. The planets have aligned. That’s on us. I just feel that if I’m not doing my job, and I don’t bring it, don’t pay me.”

Reflecting on recording their first album without founding member Jeff Hanneman, who died in 2013, King admits he wasn’t sure if the fans were ready for someone else taking over songwriting duties.

King continues: “With one dude writing 90% of it, it’s easy for the songs to all sound the same. I wanted to avoid that, though I wanted it to still sound like Slayer. I wanted to come together as a good album.

“Recording with Gary Holt, it wasn’t a lot different. He contributed some leads so when we would play live, he could contribute something. Slayer has always been a two-guitar band so that’s always in my mind. As far as writing the music goes, maybe I overthought it, but I thought Slayer fans might not be ready for a new Slayer writer.

“We used one of Jeff’s leftover songs. I think the lyrics are pretty typical – I always try to keep it really street. If we do demonic songs, of course, that’s just fictional thoughts I made up in my head. The political ones like Take Control, I write in such a generic form that anyone can get something out of it.”